Air Conditioner Facts

As we enter into the dog days of summer, many of us in Farmington Hills, MI, are becoming increasingly dependent on our air conditioning systems. Depending on your location, the building materials and construction of your home, and the amount of natural shade your home receives, you may be running your air conditioning around the clock or just during the hottest parts of the day. Either way, you may be interested to know how your air conditioner functions to deliver that coolness you can’t live without.

Our professionals at Harriman Heating & Air Conditioning want to share with you a few intricacies of your air conditioner so you can better understand how this home system keeps you and your family comfortable every day.

The Blower

The blower is an important component of your entire heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, no matter what the season. It’s responsible for circulating the cool air from your air conditioner in the summer as well as the warm air from your furnace in the winter. It can also just circulate air around your home when you run your fan; it blows this air throughout your home’s air ducts and out the registers. The blower motion also pulls air back into the air conditioner or furnace to be conditioned again.

Evaporator Coil

The evaporator coil is a component in your indoor air conditioner and resides near the blower. Refrigerant or coolant circulates through the evaporator coil, which is designed to have maximum surface area. As the air moves over the coil, both heat and moisture are extracted from the air, resulting in cool, comfortable air for you and your family.

Compressor

The coolant absorbs heat as it passes through the evaporator coil. Now in a gaseous state, it moves into the compressor. Here, the refrigerant is further pressurized in order to allow the coolant to get ready to release the absorbed heat outside. 

Condensing Coil

Since the primary job of the air conditioner is to absorb and remove the heat from inside your home and release it outside, the coolant that holds your indoor heat must leave your home. It exits to the outdoor component of your air conditioner and passes through the condensing coil. Here is where the refrigerant releases all that absorbed heat into the outdoors. During this phase, the coolant’s temperatures is reduced and it returns to a liquid state, ready for another trip into your home to collect more heat.

Condenser Fan

If you ever observe the outdoor component of your air conditioning system, you may notice a large fan that is housed in your condenser. Remember that the coils hold all the absorbed heat from your home so that your outdoor equipment must contend with the surrounding outdoor heat, the absorbed heat from inside your home, and the operational heat of the equipment all at the same time. The fan and fin system helps keep air circulating so that your air conditioning equipment does not overheat.

Air Filter

Another component that’s part of your overall HVAC system is your air filter. Its first job is to keep dirt and debris from entering into your equipment and causing it to malfunction. However, many high-quality air filters can do a secondary job of removing common household allergens such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and other particles. It’s critical that you change your air filter according to the schedule recommended by your equipment manufacturer. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, homeowners can reduce their energy bills by 5 percent to 15 percent simply by changing their air filters.

Thermostat

Although the thermostat is not often thought of as an integral part of your air conditioner, it actually serves as its control center. You can set your desired temperature using the thermostat, which will then signal the HVAC system to turn on and off. Many smart thermostats are available today that can be remotely controlled as well as work with different zones in your home, ensuring that every member of your family is comfortable all the time.

We Speak AC!

The experts at Harriman Heating & Air Conditioning in Farmington Hills, MI, would be happy explain more about your air conditioning system as well as which models may best serve your family’s needs. In addition, we can provide service and maintenance to keep your air conditioning equipment in tiptop condition. Call at 734-271-6200 or request service online.